I support Israel

[abce]

If you've wandered here from the Davis Square vigil discussion, you've probably figured out that I support Israel. If you're looking for an education, go to my blog and follow many of the links. If you're looking for a discussion, post a comment here or there, and I'm happy to take it up with you. If you're looking to spout lines unbacked by

Comments

Re: So where does the quest for peace go?

[abce]

Okay. I took "what do you think the plan is for convincing them Goliath is an ok neighbor" as being a roundabout way of saying Israel should disappear if she can't convince her neighbors.

Honestly, the Middle East is a place where "Peace through Superior Firepower" works. The problem is that firepower can be measured in military prowess, diplomatic might, and world public opinion. On the first, Israel is the most powerful - but Iran will have nukes soon, and Syria almost certainly has chemical weapons. Both of those embolden them. Diplomatically, Israel's opponents have the upper hand - just take a look at the UNHCR's agenda for an example. Were it not for the US and UK, Israel would have almost no allies with high level diplomatic clout. As for world public opinion, as long as Reuters, AP, and AFP keep publishing doctored and staged photos to make Israel look worse, that is going to work against Israel.

That said, I think Syria and Iran need their asses kicked, to remind them that Israel has that power. Honestly, I don't see a path to a lasting peace; the existence of Israel, and of Jews in the world, is too easy for radical Islam to use as a focus point. So ISrael needs to make very clear that the consequences of attacking her set back any agenda one might possibly have for a very, very long time. And if that has to happen every twenty years, that's better than having missiles killing your civilians every day.

Re: So where does the quest for peace go?

[tirinian]

Ok. "It's ours, we're keeping it, and we'll beat you up as often as we have to to prove it" is an acceptable position. It's just not "a path to peace." :-)

I would worry that, in the long run, it's also not sustainable, because sooner or later Israel won't have the upper hand. But I don't have a better option either. I was just wondering if you actually had one in mind.